Baseball game apparatus



13, 1957 R. G. BERTLEY BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jul 8, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT G. BERTLEY 42 g ye 'ATroRlVY Aug. 13,1957 R. G. BERTLEY BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July8, 1954 INVENTOR. 'ROBERT G. BERTLEY 2,802,667 4 BASEBALL GAME APPARATUSRobert G. Bertley, Queens Village, N. Y. Application my 8, 1954, SerialNo. 442,144

Claims. (Cl. 273-89) 'This invention relates to game apparatus. It hasfor its general object to provide novel and improved 'appa-' ratus forsimulating the game of baseball, and it is of such a nature as to permitindoor or house playing thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide game apparatus forsimulating the game of baseball in a realistic manner, providing ampleopportunity to the opposing players to exercise their skill andalertness.

The game apparatus of the present invention includes a board of suitablesize for indoor or lawn use and simulating a baseball field. It isarranged with various devices simulating players and with otheraccessories whereby a baseball game, though not the real thing yethaving all the characteristics of the real game, may be played. Theapparatus is such that it lends itself to playingthe game with scarcelyany sacrifice of realism and having all the fascination and enthusiasmof the real game. The arrangement of the board and associated elementsis such that the game leaves little to chance and permits full exerciseof the skill and alertness of the opposing players.

.A feature of the apparatus is the nature of the playing boardwhich isfoldable from full size to quarter size. This provides the desirableadvantage of portability and convenience of storage, and a long field toaccommodate long hits.

.Another feature is found in the characteristics of a manikin simulatinga pitcher which is provided with a spring arm for pitching purposes. Thearm is adjustable whereby the ball may be pitched from various anglesand at speeds dependent upon the. skill of the manipulator.

Other features and advantages are found in a device representing acombined backstop and catcher, in devices representing the players, andin-the general arrangemen and use of these items in the game. a

The invention further lies in the novel construction, arrangement andcombination of the various elements of the game as shown and describedherein and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of-the invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawingswherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and description, and are .not to be construed as definingthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a baseball game apparatus embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a detail of a manikin representing the pitcher;

Fig. 3 is a detail of a structure representing a field player;

' Fig. 4 is a detail of the catchers end of the board;

Fig. 5 is a detail of a base runner;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the ball used; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail illustrating the manner in which themanikin representing the tothe game board. q H.

pitcher is attached United States Patent Referring now to the drawingsfor a more detailed description of the invention, there is shown (Fig.*1) a rectangular board 1 on which the game is played and the playersare arranged. It is of suitable size for indoor or lawn use, and isdesirably about five by six feet in size.

Theboard is designed so that it may be conveniently folded up toone-quarter size, whereby convenience of storage and transportation ofthe board is provided. Tothis end, the board is divided into fourrectangular sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 of equal size as indicated by thecen-- ter lines A'B and CD. Sections 2, 3, and 4 are of identicalconstruction, each having a rigid, rectangular board member 6, along theedges of the underside of which slats 7 are secured fast in suitablemannner, such as by glue, nails, or the like.

by the four abutting sections is covered over by suitable fabricmaterial, such as green felt or the like. This material is glued fast tothe surface of the boards Whereby the four sections are held together asa unit. By this design the board 1 as a unit may be folded first in halfand, after removing the slat 8 may be folded. inhalf again toone-quarter the full size.

Along the rear edge and the adjacent right edge of the board areupstanding walls 9. These correspond to, and are intended to simulatethe fence about one of the popular ball parks. Figures to indicate thedistance of long ball drives may, if desired, be shown on the fence.

The fences are separated from one another at the center" lines of theboard. The fences are hinged to the board in suitable manner so thatthey may be folded over flat upon the face of the board and thensubsequently folded up with the board itself. Here, the edges of thesurface covering cloth 11 are extended slightly as at 12 to overlap themarginal bottom portions of the fences and are glued thereto,vwhereby'hinges are provided for the fences. The fences are held in erectposition by a plural ity of clamp elements 14 which span the back of thefence and hook at one end over the top edge of the fence and at theother end hook beneath the board. A miniature baseball diamond 15 ispainted or marked off on the surface of the board at a corner thereof.Foul lines 16 extend to the fences, and each foul line is provided witha foul line pole 17 at the fence end thereof. Elastic elements 18 loopedabout the poles hold them in erect position against the fences.

To the rear of home plate 19 a structure 21 is provided which isintended to perform the functions of both catcher and backstop.Structure. 21 comprises a pair of 6 formed elements 22 having their freeends pivoted to one another as at 23 so that the one may be folded overupon the other. Elements 22 provide a frame for the backstop, and theyare spread out at right-angles and located in erect position with thepivoted corners 23 to the rear .of the catchers position. The frame isheld erect by pairs of opposed blocks 24 fixed to the surface of theboard 1. Blocks 24 provide channelsin whichthe adjacent lower rails ofthe backstop frame are fricti-onally received. The elements 22 arecovered over with netting "of thread 25. Across the upper outer cornersof the frame is stretched a cord 26, which together with the upper railsof the frame support a top covering of thread netting 27. Thus, abackstop for the diamond is provided. The catcher is provided .by a box28 C6119 Section 5 is similarly formed, but with the exception that aslat 8 along an intrally of the backstop and formed of similar netting.The box is open in the end facing the field. The box opening isstrengthened and supported by parallel cords 29 at the outer verticaledges, which cords are connected to the cross cord 26 at the upper endand to a similar cross cord 31 at the lower end. The ceiling of the boxis provided by the upper netting 27 towhich the side and back walls ofthe catchers box are secured. It is. clear from the pivotal nature ofthe backstop and the netted structure of the box portion that when thegame board is to be folded up, the combined backstop and catcherstructure 21 may be removed from the block elements 24 and folded intwo.

The infield players and the outfield players are represented by aplurality of cages of similar construction, of which each small cage 32represents an infield player, and each large cage 33 represents anoutfield player. The several cages are spread about the game board atstrategic positions, much the same as players in the real game might bepositioned.

To provide for compactness, ease of assembly, and to avoid loss ofparts, the player cages are attached to the board as unitary partsthereof. As previously mentioned, the board is foldable. The playercages are formed and attached to the board in such manner that they maybe folded flat upon the surface of the board, and thereby folded up withthe board itself.

Since each player cage is of identical construction, it will suffice todescribe but one. See Fig. 3 where a detail of a field player or cage isillustrated. It comprises a rectangular frame 34, the free ends 35 ofwhich provide feet which are secured for pivotal movement of the frameby staples 36 to the surface of the board. The frame is held erect in aslightly rearwardly tilted position by means of a pair of cord lines 37.The latter are attached at opposite ends of the top rail 38 of theframe. The free ends of the cords are carried down angularly to the faceof the board and passed through holes 39 to the underside of the boardwhere they are knotted as at 41 to prevent escape of the cords from theboard holes. The cage frame 34 is prevented from pivoting over upon theboard surface by the knotted cord lines 37 and by a slightly rearwardtilted position of the frame. A line 42 preferably of cord is securedacross lines 37 near the board surface. A similar line 43 across lines37 is secured further up, preferably about one-third of the way up lines37. Netting 44 of thread is secured across the framing provided by sidelines 37, cross line 42, and the upper rail of frame 34. The netting 44is draped over the intermediate cross line 43; it is sufficiently largeenough so that it sags on opposite sides of line 43, whereby a smallrectangular pocket is provided below the line 43 and a largerrectangular pocket is provided above the line. The structure is furthersupported against sagging of the side lines 37 under the weight of thenetting 44 by a line 45 preferably of elastic, disposed angularly fromthe upper rail of frame 34 to the board surface and removably attachedto a hook in the board surface. The pockets 46 and 47 serve to catch aball batted during the game. The netting, being of thread, is adapted toyield so as to draw back slightly under the impact of a batted ball,whereby the ball is, as it were caught in a glove.

A manikin 48 designed to simulate a pitcher is provided. The pitchercomprises a plate of rigid metal formed to simulate the head and body ofa man, and

provided at its bottom is a rearwardly extending flange or foot portion49 serving to support the manikin in standing position on the surface ofthe game board. The foot portion 49 is provided with a hole 50containing bolt and nut means 51 engaging the game board, whereby themanikin is secured in erect position to the surface of the latter. Inthis respect the foot portion 49 rests upon the surface of the gameboard, the shank of the bolt element 65 passes through hole 50 of thefoot portion and through a complementary hole of the game 4 board. Thenut element 66 is threaded upon the projecting shank of the bolt and isdrawn up tight against the underside of the game board, as appears inFig. 7. An elongated thin strip of spring steel serves as the pitchersarm 52. The strip is attached to the pitchers body by means of anelongated vertical slot 53 in the strip and by bolt and nut means 54engaging the strip through a hole in the body of the pitcher. The arm 52is adjustable to a plurality of pitching positions. It may be lengthenedor shortened relative to the body portion, or moved from left to right,by sliding the slotted arm over the shank of the bolt means 54 or bypivoting the arm about the bolt shank. The adjusted position of the armis made secure by tightening the bolt means 54. A hand for the pitchersarm is simulated by a covering of soft material 55 over the upper faceend of the arm. Padding the edges of the underside of the coveringprovides a convexed central area 56 in which the ball to be pitched maybe positioned.

It is clear that by means of the steel spring arm 52 a ball may bepitched toward the catcher. This is done by holding the ball in the handof the pitching arm by means of the thumb and forefinger, flexing thearm rearwardly and then letting go. The ball will be propelled forwardlyby the restoring spring action of the arm. The height and position ofthe arm may be adjusted through the slot and bolt means so that thepitched ball will pass over home plate and will pass through the openend of the catchers box to land therein. Balls missing the catchers boxwill be stopped by the backstop structure.

A left-handed pitcher may be provided by securing the pitching arm inthe hole 57 at the left side of the pitchers body.

A ball 58 is provided for the game. It is about fiveeighths of an inchin diameter and adapted to be held in the hand of the pitching arm 52.It is formed of lightweight material, such as, balsa wood, plastic,moulded material, or the like.

A bat 59 of suitable size is provided, taking into consideration theminiature nature of the game and the size of the ball. The bat ispreferably about seven inches in length, tapering from an inch at thewide end to a half inch at the handle. The bat is swung by a playerholding it in his hands over home plate. The opposing player pitches theball through the pitching arm 52.

To further make the game realistic, base runners 56 are provided. Therunner is provided with a wheeled base 61 whereby it may be quicklymoved across the board from base to base by aplayer during the game.

The board 1 may be supported for playing purposes upon a suitable table,or it may be supported on a plurality of legs 62 positioned about theboard at short distances from one another. Legs 62 comprise an elongateddowel 63 for a leg and a block 64 positionable under the game board forsupporting the latter.

In disassembling the game apparatus, the pitcher is unbolted and removedfrom the board and the combined backstop and catcher structure isremoved from the supporting blocks. The fencesv are'folded over fiatupon the board surface, and the several player cages are pivoted downupon the face of the board. Next the board itself is folded in halfalong the center line AB and, after removing the slat 8 the board isfolded in quarter along the line CD.

While various rules might be devised in playing the game, I find thefollowing method appropriate for giving to the game a sense of realismin which the players take a competitive and active part.

The pitcher tries to fool the batter by varying the angle of the pitchand the speed thereof.

When the batter hits the ball in the infield, he wheels the runner tofirst base as rapidly as he can, unless the ball has been caught on thefly by one of the player cages or manually by an opposing participant.Grounders are picked up by a defensive participant and tossed to theplayer cage at first base, making the out if the ball reaches therebefore the runner.

Double plays are made by making the throw to the player cage at the mostadvanced base to which a runner is forced and then to any other basebefore a runner reaches it. A runner who is not forced to a base must betagged with the ball in the participants hand after a throw is made tothat base.

Base hits are valued according to where the ball lands on the field.Grounders and line drives on one or more hops stopped by an outfielderplayer cage are singles. Drives reaching the fences are doubles Hitsover center fielder and into the fence are triples. Fair balls over thefence on a fly are home runs.

The above method of scoring hits is preferable where there is only oneparticipant for each team. Where there is more than one participant perteam the outfielder throws the ball in to the infielder participant orplayer cage to curtail the extent of the hit, the runner advancing inthe meanwhile as far as possible.

The infield fly rule and wherever possible all other rules of theregular game of baseball apply. A pitched ball entering the catchers boxis a strike, otherwise a ball.

The particular dimensions selected for the game board relativelycomparable to the proportions of the average popular ball park, wherebyfurther realism is added to the game.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred form of theinvention, it is clear that some modification of form might be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention, it is my intent,therefore, to claim the invention not only in the form presented, butalso in all such forms as may be reasonably construed to be within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a baseball game apparatus, a foldable board; simulated basemen,each baseman comprising a frame pivotable over upon the board, a netangularly supported by the frame and providing a pair of adjoiningpockets adapted to catch a ball entering therein, and means forpreventing the frame from pivoting over upon the board; a manikinpitcher removably attached to the surface of the board and having aflexible pitching arm adjustable to a plurality of pitching positionsand adapted to propel a ball upon being flexed and released; and acombined catchers box and backstop comprising'a pair of rectangularnetted frame members pivoted at right angles to one another, means onthe surface of the board frictionally holding the pivoted frame membersin erect position, a netting stretched across the top of the pivotedmembers, and a netted box element located between the frame members anddepending from the underside of the net ting stretched across the top ofthe pivoted members and being open in an end facing the pitcher, the boxelement adapted to receive a ball pitched through the open end and tohold it, and the frame members adapted by the netting to stop a pitchedball not entering the box element.

2. In a baseball game apparatus including a playing board and asimulated pitcher mounted thereon, a combined catchers box and backstopcomprising a foldable frame of rigid material including a pair ofrectangular arm members pivotable to a position at right angles to oneanother and as pivoted being removably mountable in supporting blocks onthe surface of the playing board, netting covering the arm members andnetting stretched over the top of one arm to the other, whereby abackstop is provided to intercept a pitched ball, and a rectangular boxof netting material located between the pivoted arm members, the boxdepending from the underside of the netting stretched over the top ofthe arms and the box being open in an end facing the pitcher, and thebox adapted to catch a ball pitched therein through the open end.

3. In a baseball game apparatus of the character described, arectangular rigid playing board, and a manikin pitcher blanked fromsheet metal, the pitcher having a foot extension fastened to the surfaceof the board, a separate extended arm for the pitcher formed of flatspring steel, the arm having a slot therein, bolt and nut means in thebody of the pitcher engaging the slot of the arm for supporting the armto the pitcher, a sleeve simulating a hand covering the free end of thearm and having a slight recess in which might be positioned a miniatureball, the slot being vertically extended in the arm whereby the arm canbe adjusted on the bolt and nut means to a plurality of vertical andangular positions for pitching the ball, and the arm being actuable tothrow the ball upon manually flexing the arm while at the same timemanually holding the ball in the recess and then simultaneously manuallyletting go of both the arm and the ball.

4. In a baseball game apparatus, a rectangular board, simulated basemenand fielders each having a rectangular frame of rigid wire pivoted tothe boards surface, a pair of cord lines extending downward andangularly to the boards surface from opposite ends of the top rail ofthe frame, the free ends of the cord lines projecting through fine holesin the board and being knotted below the board so as to prevent upwardescape of the cord lines from the holes, the frame being tilted slightlytoward the boards surface in a direction opposed to the direction inwhich the cord lines extend whereby the knotted ends of said cord linesare drawn upwardly by the weight of the frame to limit against theunderside of the board, a first cross line connected across the saidcord lines near the surface of the board, a second cross line spacedupwards of the latter line and also connected across the said cordlines, and a lightweight netting secured to the cord lines, to the toprail of the frame and to the first cross line, the netting being drapedover the second cross line and sagging between the top rail of the frameand the second cross line and also sagging between the latter line andthe first cross line whereby a pair of pockets for catching a hit ballis provided, one to either side of the second cross line.

5. In a baseball game apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the board isfoldable to half size and is divided into four equal rectangularsections, each section including slats bordering the marginal edges ofthe underside thereof, the slats of neighboring sections abutting oneanother in side by side relation along the longitudinal and lateralcenter lines of the board, a fabric covering adhered to the top surfaceof the several sections and holding them together as a unit, and theboard as a unit being adapted to be folded in half along a selected oneof the center lines of the board.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS921,366 Conolly May 11, 1909 1,153,719 Simmons Sept. 14, 1915 1,585,556Markham et al May 18, 1926 1,591,753 Flaugh July 6, 1926 1,685,428 LowrySept. 25, 1928 2,145,840 Thompson et al. Jan. 31, 1939 2,412,714 CaesarDec. 17, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 641,504 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1950

